-- Background papers on farm bill topics --
"There are 20 or so background papers on various farm bill topics written
by Extension Agri. Economists on the World Wide Web,
URL site http://unlvm.unl.edu/farmbill.htm"
-- Set of papers outlining various green payment programs and other farm
bill components that could affect the environment. --
'Agricultural Conservation Alternatives: The Greening of the Farm Bill.'
A. Ann Sorensen, Editor. DeKalb, Illinois, American Farmland
Trust,October, 1994. 130 p.
Available from: American Farmland Trust, Center for Agriculture in the
Environment, Post Office Box 987, DeKalb, Illinois 60115, Ph: 815-753-
9347; FAX: 815-753-2305
-- Position paper on effects of CRP on wildlife --
A position paper has been prepared by a group of wildlife biologists for
the national organization of wildlife professionals, The Wildlife Society.
The intent seems to be to use it as a basis for testimony to Congress for
the '95 bill. It has a considerable amount of background on past Farm
Bills and specific recommendations for several parts of the bill, not just
CRP--although CRP is certainly an important part of the recommendations.
This paper should be in press sometime in March. There will probably be
a small fee for the report. For information contact Harry Hodgdon, The
Wildlife Society, 5410 Grosvenor Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814-2197, Ph: (301)-
897-9770.
-- CAST conference recommendations --
(CAST = Council on Agricultural Science and Technology)
CAST recently held a conference in D.C. on "Sustainable Agriculture and
the 1995 Farm Bill." A summary document of the findings and
recommendations should hit the streets in early March. Contact Dr. Richard
Stuckey, Exec. Vice President, CAST, 4420 West Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50014-
3447, Ph:(515)-292-2125, FAX:(515)-292-4512.
-- Policy studies from the Henry Wallace Institute --
There are some policy studies put out by the Henry Wallace Institute for
Sustainable Agriculture. Contact Dr. Katherine Smith,Director,Policy
Studies Program, Henry A. Wallace Institute, 9200 Edmonston Rd., Suite 117,
Greenbelt, MD 20770-1551, Ph:(301)-441-8777.
-- Community Food Security Initiative --
"The Community Food Security Coalition, a diverse network of anti-
hunger, sustainable agriculture, environmental, community development, and
other food and agriculture related organizations proposes a new type of
legislative initiative, The Community Security Empowerment Act, for the
1995 Farm Bill. Employing a comprehensive food systems approach, this
proposal addresses the continuum of food related problems from low income
and middle class consumers to family farmers, while enhancing the linkages
between these groups."
For information, contact Mark Winne, Hartford Food System, 509
Wethersfield Ave, Hartford, CT 06114, phone: (203)-296-9325, FAX:(203)-296-
8326, or Kate Fitzgerald, Sustainable Food Center, 1715 East Sixth St.
Suite 200, Austin, TX, 78702, Ph:(512)-472-2073; FAX:(512)-472-2075.
-- Policy paper by Farm Foundation --
"There are some very interesting positions taken in a series of Farm
Bill Policy Papers sponsored by the Farm Foundation and written by
members of the National Public Policy Education Committee. Although
one is specifically on Sustainable Agriculture, others relate to
sustainable aspects of all the titles of the Farm Bill. In
particular, there is discussion of green payments, animal welfare
requirements, corporate farm and credit regulations, targeted
commodity assistance to mid- and small farmers, CRP and WRP and food
assistance and food safety. You will find good food for thought, and
economics explained at a level upper undergrads can easily comprehend.
"The entire packet may be obtained from the University of Nebraska-
Lincoln, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources GOPHER site.
There are numerous graphs and tables in *.GIF format that might be
hard to translate without a PageMaker setup. Other sources for the
originals are: your extension crops specialists at the land grant
university (check with ag econ) and from the publisher, Texas A&M.
"To order the set from A&M: Mrs. Dawne Hicks, Agricultural and Food
Policy Center, Dept of Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University,
College Station, TX 77843-2124, Ph: 409-845-5913, FAX: 409-845-3140
"The entire set is $10, but you can get a release from the
Farm Foundation (who partially funded the study) or Texas A&M to copy
them freely, as the text is not copyrighted. I downloaded them from
the GOPHER and prepared a title sheet that cited the National Public
Policy Education Committee as the source. Each paper has individual
authors, too, so there is ample information for a citation."
-- Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture --
(= National Sustainable Agriculture Coordinating Council)
(= umbrella group including Sust. Ag. Working Groups [SAWG])
"The Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture is a network of diverse
interests from all regions of the country working together to change
federal policy to foster a sustainable farm and food system. The Campaign,
involves over 500 grassroots and national organizations representing family
farmers, consumers, environmentalists, rural communities, social justice
advocates, fish and wildlife interests, animal protection supporters,
farmworkers, the religious community, people of color, community food
activists, and other concerned citizens. This broad network has its roots
in a consensus-building effort that encouraged broad popular participation
in defining federal policy options.
"Campaign participants are committed to an agriculture that is
economically prosperous for family farms, supportive of viable rural
communities, environmentally sound, and productive, humane and just. We
believe the federal government should continue to a have an important role
in food and agricultural policy, but some current programs are misdirected,
not working, or not working nearly as well as they should.
"Major reform and redirection of federal agricultural programs and
funding priorities are required to:
* promote, rather than restrict, family farm and rural community
economic opportunities
* reward, rather than penalize, good stewardship of land and natural
resources
* advance, rather than obstruct, equal opportunity and representation,
fair pay and safe working conditions, and humane treatment of animals
"The Campaign For Sustainable Agriculture favors innovative, cost-
effective options to:
* foster family farms and increase farm income
* improve the status of minority farmers and farmworkers
* ensure stable, safe, and abundant food
* protect human health
* enhance soil and water quality and conservation
* reduce the need for and attendant costs of chemical fertilizers and
pesticides
* stabilize and rebuild fish and wildlife populations
* stem the loss of prime and unique farmland
* promote the well being of animals
* advance new, locally-controlled marketing and business opportunities
* support community-based food and nutrition initiatives
* create new farming opportunities
"The Campaign intends to pursue reform and redirection initiatives
through the 1995 Farm Bill reauthorization, the Fiscal Year 1996 Budget Act
and Fiscal Year 1996 Agriculture Appropriations bill, and through improved
administrative implementation of existing measures. The Campaign invites
individuals and organizations in accord with its priorities to join forces
to make 1995 a year of real change in federal food, farm, and conservation
policy.
[At this point, the Campaign has published a concise list of priority
recommendations. D H-E]
Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture Contacts:
National Office: Northeast Contact:
Amy Little Dorothy Suput
12 N. Church St 368 Highland Ave
Goshen, NY 10924 Somerville, MA 02144
(914)-294-0633 (617)-666-1005
Fax: (914)-294-0632 (617)-666-1005
hn3149@handsnet.org
Midwest Contact: Southern Contact:
Renee Robinson Julie Burns
P.O. Box 648 4 Lindsey Rd
Rochester, IL 62563 Asheville, NC 28805
(217) 498-9707 (704)-299-1922
FAX: (217) 498-9235 (704)-299-1575
Western Contact: California Contact:
Paul Weingartner Kai Siedenburg
P.O. Box 8596 P.O. Box 1599
Moscow ID 83843 Santa Cruz, CA 95061
(208) 882-1444 (408) 458-5304
FAX (208) 882-8029 (408) 454-0433xx
-- American Farm Bureau Federation --
The American Farm Bureau Federation has some strong opinions on the Farm
Bill, but will not have any written recommendations until the middle of
March. Contact John Keeling, 600 Maryland Ave SW, Suite 800, Wash DC
20024, phone: (202)-484-3620
-- National Farmer's Organization position papers --
The NFO has some short policy papers on the Farm Bill. The already have
recommendations for grain and CRP, and should soon have something on
livestock and dairy. For info contact: Thayne Cozart, National Farmer's
Organization, 2505 Elwood Drive, Ames, IA 50010-200, Ph: (515)-292-2000.
-- National Pork Producers Council's 'Pork Issues Handbook' --
The National Pork Producer's Council has published a 'Pork Issues
Handbook' which provides their position on a variety of issues including
environment, food safety, marketing/industry structure, nutrition, product
marketing, research and production, tax/finance, trade, and worker health &
safety. Contact the National Pork Producer's Council, P.O.Box 10383, Des
Moines, IA, 50306, Ph: (515)-223-2600; FAX: (515)-223-2646.
================================================================
Again, thanks to those who responded to my request.
David Hougen-Eitzman
Biology Department
Carleton College
Northfield, MN 55057
and
Big Woods Community Farm
10752 Nerstrand Blvd
Nerstrand, MN 55053
deitzman@carleton.edu